This species grows on rocks of a wide variety, but especially on those with calcareous content. Previously reported in North America by Fink (1935) from New York, Indiana, Illinois, and Nebraska, it has been collected by I. M. Brodo in the Arctic as far north as Polar Bear Pass on Bathurst Island, by N. McCartney on Somerset Island, and by D. Fahselt on Ellesmere Island. Vainio (1909) reported it from Siberia, and it occurs in Scandinavia, south to the Alps in Europe.

Arthonia rupicola Fink in Hedrick (1933) is probably only this species, as it is differentiated solely by the unequal spore cell sizes. As noted above, this character is also to be found in A. lapidicola.